Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I believe I am in order to speak on issues that arise on Committee Stage. I am not trying to delay this. It is not our intention to delay. However, I wish to deal with that because the Minister made the same point in his summing up on Second Stage. I clearly put on record on Second Stage my interpretation of republican equality which differs from the interpretation of left-wing liberals. It is equality of opportunity for the individual. The Constitution refers to equality for each person, as the Minister rightly pointed out when he quoted from the Constitution. Senator Norris is talking about equality for different types of relationships and what is involved is not individual relationships but couples or institutions such as marriage. The interpretation of republican equality does not stretch to all relationships or to all situations such that they should be equal. It pertains specifically to persons.

In regard to the specific amendment that I and my colleagues tabled, I accept it could be interpreted that due to the omission of the word "civil" the proposed wording to be inserted could appear narrow-minded. If the wording proposed to be inserted was "civil partnership and cohabitants (non marital relationships) Act 2010", I would press the amendment. However, in view of the fact that we have omitted "civil" from the proposed words to be inserted and that people might take offence, I will withdraw the amendment.